180 years of history

1815

The Firm Van Houten was founded in Amsterdam, Holland – by
Coenraad Johannes Van Houten.
In the 1820s chocolate drinking was not widely developed and the
taste quality was very poor. How to develop a chocolate drink where
the housewife should only add hot water or milk to a chocolate
basis? How to make the chocolate easy soluble?

1828

Van Houten invented the cocoa pressing method – which was
granted a patent from the Dutch King William I. Cocoa solids
were separated from cocoa butter by means of pressing by treatment
with alkali, acids were neutralized, fibres softened and broken
up.

Result – light fluffy powder, full of flavour, extremely
digestible and easy soluble in milk or water
Other ground cocoa beans(=cocoa mass) mixed with sugar and with
added cocoa butter which had been obtained in making cocoa powder,
could be moulded into solid chocolate bars, and used to coat
chocolate candies.

1850

Van Houten builds a new factory in Weesp, the Netherlands. He
starts exporting products to the UK, France and Germany.

1870

Expansion of the international business. Participation at
international exhibitions where Van Houten receives numerous awards
and gold medals.

End of 19th century The name Van Houten has become known world-wide
for the invention of cocoa powder for chocolate drinks – and has
become a brand!Van Houten is represented in many countries around
the globe: NL(Weesp), Germany (a new factory end of 19th in
Krefeld), UK, France, USA: New York and Chicago.

1900

Van Houten ranks among the 10 most famous brands in the U.S.
Already from 1850s a forerunner in Marketing and PR with focus on
advertisements in newspapers in its focal markets.

1914

About 90% turnover is achieved from outside the Netherlands.

1918-60

Van Houten builds new factories in Germany, France, the UK and
Singapore.

1971

Take-over by the company Leonard Monheim, Aachen Germany.
Closing of the Weesp factory.